Citizen Army, World's largest.

[R J]

Citizen Soldiers.... Amazing Facts...

Interesting slant on things
AMERICA'S HUNTERS --- Pretty Amazing!

The world's largest army... America's hunters!
I had never thought about this...

A blogger added up the deer license sales in just a handful of states and arrived at a striking
conclusion:

There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin .
Allow me to restate that number: Over the last several months, Wisconsin's hunters became the eighth largest army in the world.

More men under arms than in Iran.

More than France and Germany combined.

These men deployed to the woods of a single American state, Wisconsin, to hunt with firearms, and no one was killed.

That number pales in comparison to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of Pennsylvania and Michigan's 700,000 hunters, all of whom have now returned home safely.
Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia and it literally establishes that the hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world. And then add in the total number of hunters in the other 46 states.
It's millions more.

The point?

America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower.

Hunting...
it's not just a way to fill the freezer.
It's a matter of national security.

***************************************
That's why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed.

Food for thought, when next we consider gun control.

Overall it's true, so if we disregard some assumptions that hunters don't possess the same skills as soldiers, the question would still remain...what army of 2 million would want to face 30, 40, 50 million armed citizens.

[#2944]

Never thought of that before.... I love it! 
Zots

[czuch]

7/27/2012, They vote in the UN to disarm us.
7/28/2012,  be ready

[Davemn]

Cool stats but I wouldnt confuse hunters with soldiers. Big difference.

[R J]

Cool stats but I wouldnt confuse hunters with soldiers. Big difference.

You must not of been around in 1941, December 7.

Lots of gun owners became soldiers very fast, and they saved the United States ass from Japan and Germany.

[The Anvil]

Cool stats but I wouldnt confuse hunters with soldiers. Big difference.

Exactly. I know a lot of "hunters" who can't shoot for crap. That's not even counting all of the other skills that make a soldier a soldier.

That said, it's still a deterrent. Someone once said that they would not invade America as there would be a gun behind every blade of grass. It's a bit of hyperbole but there's some truth to it.

[DIGGER]

numbers don't help if we aint got guns anymore......carefull who you vote for this election.

[Davemn]

I was not around on Dec 7th, 1941. But my dad was. So dont insult me with your WWII reference. Anyone can carry a rifle in the woods. Not everyone makes a good soldier.

[solo1]

I was not around on Dec 7th, 1941. But my dad was. So dont insult me with your WWII reference. Anyone can carry a rifle in the woods. Not everyone makes a good soldier.

That was NOT considered an insult, sorry that you took it that way. just some background.   For your info, RJ is a Korean war Vet with 5 Purple hearts. 

As for a hunter making a soldier, that depends on the motivation.  The militia in the Revolutionary War learned fast, when up against the British elite,   but not without many losses at first.

[jer0177]

One big thing that the Revolutionary War soldiers had on their side was that they weren't bound to the training that the British soldiers had on how to fight a war.  The British would fire by rank and then reload by rank, while the Revolutionary soldiers would keep firing as rapidly as they could, among other things.

That would still hold true today, although the soldier training has gotten a lot better at fighting, I would still vote for the side of the people defending their homeland.  Look at the Vietnam "Conflict" (my stepdad and grandad were both there), the Vietnamese people that we were "Conflicting" against used anything and everything they could to defend their home.

[Willow]

  Look at the Vietnam "Conflict" (my stepdad and grandad were both there), the Vietnamese people that we were "Conflicting" against used anything and everything they could to defend their home.

You may need to check the accuracy of your history lessons.  The Vietnamese units that rolled into Saigon at the exit of the U.S troops were armored and well trained North Vietnamese columns.  They were invading, not defending their homeland.

 

[The Anvil]

  Look at the Vietnam "Conflict" (my stepdad and grandad were both there), the Vietnamese people that we were "Conflicting" against used anything and everything they could to defend their home.

You may need to check the accuracy of your history lessons.  The Vietnamese units that rolled into Saigon at the exit of the U.S troops were armored and well trained North Vietnamese columns.  They were invading, not defending their homeland.

 

That's one way to look at it but it's kind of missing the point. The technicality of who was invading who is not as important as the perception of those who were doing the fighting. When peasants in the Song Ve Valley see American troops killing and raping indiscriminately the original cause is swiftly forgotten. You become the invaded.

It's much harder to fight on foreign soil rather than fighting on your home turf. That's just a fact. Look at how Afghanistan (the grave of empires) has humbled technologically and numerically superior forces throughout history. Throw in difficult terrain and every advantage belongs to the "defender". Occupation is a fool's game.

[bigguy]

And several of the "Armies" we might face are filled with conscripts, also not well trained. Yes, there will be elite forces in those armies, but they're likely to be a small percentage of the men under arms. I've got no empirical data here, but I'd imagine that quite of few of those hunters here in the U.S. may have military service in their backgrounds, and could be back up to par pretty quickly. The others will be people familiar with arms, moving silently and unseen, and putting lead into an elusive quarry. Not a group of people I'd want to mess with.

[Patrick]

That's one way to look at it but it's kind of missing the point. The technicality of who was invading who is not as important as the perception of those who were doing the fighting. When peasants in the Song Ve Valley see American troops killing and raping indiscriminately the original cause is swiftly forgotten. You become the invaded.

It's much harder to fight on foreign soil rather than fighting on your home turf. That's just a fact. Look at how Afghanistan (the grave of empires) has humbled technologically and numerically superior forces throughout history. Throw in difficult terrain and every advantage belongs to the "defender". Occupation is a fool's game.

What ??!!  I don't want to get into ' a war thing' with this,,but,, thats about the ........ thing I've ever heard..
First ,I don't believe much of what I hear about Song Ve or Chu Lai..
Second, I don't ever want another war waged in this country,, even though it is about time for a revolution.. And I think almost everyone would agree with me.. How did any of them turn out ??  Especially, the Civil war, we lost more Americans on American soil during that war than any other..
Third, many hunters were/are soldiers.. And, any nitwit protecting his home with a gun is better[ as long as he doesn't shoot a family member] than without the gun..

[The Anvil]

That's one way to look at it but it's kind of missing the point. The technicality of who was invading who is not as important as the perception of those who were doing the fighting. When peasants in the Song Ve Valley see American troops killing and raping indiscriminately the original cause is swiftly forgotten. You become the invaded.

It's much harder to fight on foreign soil rather than fighting on your home turf. That's just a fact. Look at how Afghanistan (the grave of empires) has humbled technologically and numerically superior forces throughout history. Throw in difficult terrain and every advantage belongs to the "defender". Occupation is a fool's game.

What ??!!  I don't want to get into ' a war thing' with this,,but,, thats about the ........ thing I've ever heard..
First ,I don't believe much of what I hear about Song Ve or Chu Lai..
Second, I don't ever want another war waged in this country,, even though it is about time for a revolution.. And I think almost everyone would agree with me.. How did any of them turn out ??  Especially, the Civil war, we lost more Americans on American soil during that war than any other..
Third, many hunters were/are soldiers.. And, any nitwit protecting his home with a gun is better[ as long as he doesn't shoot a family member] than without the gun..

I believe pretty much about it Song Ve, My Lai, Chu Lai... Too many people who were there (not just the Vietnamese BTW) confirmed the atrocities. Bury your head in the sand if you wish but the evidence is overwhelming. It was also war and horrible things happen in them. ALL of them. I actually think we've done a decent job of learning from what happened there.

And here (because it is my contrarian nature to do so) I will point out what you may have missed in all of that atrocity and how things are almost never as simple as they appear. Take My Lai for instance; in the middle of all of that murder and bloodletting there was valor. In the darkest moments the good rise and bring light. It's so very easy to get caught up in fury and become a paranoid, indiscriminate killing machine in an environment like that. It's so easy to lose your humanity and go rogue. That humanity intervened speaks volumes. Humanity didn't intervene in Bosnia, it didn't intervene in Sudan and it's not intervening in Syria as I write this.

But it did in Vietnam. More than once in fact. These things are hard to read about and harder to fathom and not feel ashamed of your country. But there's also a lot to be proud of because when the time came put a stop to either put a stop to it or look the other way SOMEONE stood up and did the right thing.



Where exactly did I say that I want another war on American soil??? I think we're in agreement on that.

[Patrick]

I'm not about to bury my head in the sand,, I don't have to..

[Hook#3287]

                  thank you  RJ                       

I'm with John, thanks RJ.

It's funny, this past weekend while cruising the back roads of New Hampshire, I had these same thoughts.  I wouldn't want to be in any army that tries to overrun/occupy this country.   

"A gun behind every blade of grass" sounds about right.  Maybe two.

I'm not a hunter, but I own guns and enjoy shooting.  How many people of like mind are there in this country?

Most hunters I know would not need much "training" to make the bridge to soldier.

All I know is, after reading the earlier posts of the coming economic meltdown, I need to stock up on ammo.


 

[Russell Rice]

I agree that hunters make good hunters.......deer don't shoot back

[Buda]

Sounds like the point is.....as a country a lot of us could shoot back.

[Rams]

I'd agree that the "citizen" arsenal is impressive, I'd also agree that hunters aren't soldiers.  To further both points, I'm a former hunter, a Marine grunt, a former Artillery FSO, former Scout Pilot and a  former Helicopter Test Pilot and a whole lot of other former things.  All those "former" skills make me a pretty poor old soldier.    Conflict such as invasion is a young man's venture.  Old farts like me make good cannon fodder.  So would most of the rest in my age group. 

But, I also agree that no military or non-military force on this plant could take physical control, put soldiers in the field, on the ground and maintain a secure position very long, much less actually control the country.  But, that is not a viable way to eliminate us as a force or as a country.  Obviously, use of NBC warfare would be required to take us out.  No land force is capable of sustaining such a conflict in this country.  But, why destroy us and endanger themselves?   There are several ways to control us though. 

We can be controlled by financial manipulation, social engineering and media mind washing.  Yes, we are our greatest enemies.  I'm not suggesting anyone should not be armed or prepared to defend themselves, their loved one or their country but, those vast numbers of hunting weapons are not going to be needed to thwart any invading force.  It won't take a single shot to bring this country to it's knees, we'll do that all by ourselves with our singular votes, our wasted expenditures and our lack of personal responsibility to depend on ourselves.  Look around, see it for yourselves.

[Moonshot_1]

Cool stats but I wouldnt confuse hunters with soldiers. Big difference.

True, There can be a Big difference between the two.

There is also a big difference between an armed citizenry and an unarmed citizenry.

The former are usually a free people and the later would seem to be easily conquered.

The question isn't "Can we muster an army out of a bunch of Hunters?"

The question is "Would you want to invade a Country of well armed, outspoken, pissed off  citizens?"

Course not.

[Chrisj CMA]

lets see,  lets just say I know of an average American......someone that lives on limited means.  He has:

3 or 4 firing long range rifles (at least one has a few boxes of ammo and is sighted in)

7 or 8 handguns ranging from the biggest to the smallest (lots of extra ammo for all and proficient with all too)

3-5 shotguns (12ga, a couple 20ga single shots, and a police style 20ga shorti pump for home defense)

At any given time theres 2-5 proficient shooters in the house and willing to defend the homestead.

If, this in any way reflects half of the average American households aresenol and firepower...I certainely wouldnt want to come against the average American neighborhood pack of hunters defending their street, would you?

[~ Timbrwolf]

...not exactly accurate..but hey...its yet another chain e mail posted on a Forums Board...

...every year up here in the woods the local news has a few stories about "hunters" ..either killing themselves or someone else.....which is why Chili and I stay well clear of the woods during "hunting season"....

...heres just one article I Googled on the net...notice how it says..."another" Michigan hunter killed...the article states that "three" hunters were killed since.. Tuesday...The 18th of November last year was on a Friday...so thats four people who were accidently killed while hunting....in "three days" ..there was another article about a guy in Michigan who last year shot and killed his own brother..

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/11/18/michigan-man-dies-after-shooting-self-during-deer-hunt/

[Rams]

lets see,  lets just say I know of an average American......someone that lives on limited means.  He has:

3 or 4 firing long range rifles (at least one has a few boxes of ammo and is sighted in)

7 or 8 handguns ranging from the biggest to the smallest (lots of extra ammo for all and proficient with all too)

3-5 shotguns (12ga, a couple 20ga single shots, and a police style 20ga shorti pump for home defense)

At any given time theres 2-5 proficient shooters in the house and willing to defend the homestead.

If, this in any way reflects half of the average American households aresenol and firepower...I certainely wouldnt want to come against the average American neighborhood pack of hunters defending their street, would you?

Jeff,
While I'd love to see the "average" American household have such arsenals, I sincerely doubt half Americans even have a hand gun much less an arms room filled with that kind of weaponry.  Yeah, I know folks that have numerous weapons and they normally have a bunch but, I know a whole lot more that don't have anything to defend themselves with other than a cell phone.

[Lil D]

Blackrams 

[Patrick]

Like any post,, it heads off in different directions.. But,, I believe Black rams is right.. When it comes right down to it,, we have seen the enemy and its us..

[Chrisj CMA]

lets see,  lets just say I know of an average American......someone that lives on limited means.  He has:

3 or 4 firing long range rifles (at least one has a few boxes of ammo and is sighted in)

7 or 8 handguns ranging from the biggest to the smallest (lots of extra ammo for all and proficient with all too)

3-5 shotguns (12ga, a couple 20ga single shots, and a police style 20ga shorti pump for home defense)

At any given time theres 2-5 proficient shooters in the house and willing to defend the homestead.

If, this in any way reflects half of the average American households aresenol and firepower...I certainely wouldnt want to come against the average American neighborhood pack of hunters defending their street, would you?

Jeff,
While I'd love to see the "average" American household have such arsenals, I sincerely doubt half Americans even have a hand gun much less an arms room filled with that kind of weaponry.  Yeah, I know folks that have numerous weapons and they normally have a bunch but, I know a whole lot more that don't have anything to defend themselves with other than a cell phone.

ok a quarter then 

[Tropic traveler]

There are several ways to control us though. 

We can be controlled by financial manipulation, social engineering and media mind washing.  Yes, we are our greatest enemies.  I'm not suggesting anyone should not be armed or prepared to defend themselves, their loved one or their country but, those vast numbers of hunting weapons are not going to be needed to thwart any invading force.  It won't take a single shot to bring this country to it's knees, we'll do that all by ourselves with our singular votes, our wasted expenditures and our lack of personal responsibility to depend on ourselves.  Look around, see it for yourselves.

Truer words have never been written.
Regettably. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

lets see,  lets just say I know of an average American......someone that lives on limited means.  He has:

3 or 4 firing long range rifles (at least one has a few boxes of ammo and is sighted in)

7 or 8 handguns ranging from the biggest to the smallest (lots of extra ammo for all and proficient with all too)

3-5 shotguns (12ga, a couple 20ga single shots, and a police style 20ga shorti pump for home defense)

At any given time theres 2-5 proficient shooters in the house and willing to defend the homestead.

If, this in any way reflects half of the average American households aresenol and firepower...I certainely wouldnt want to come against the average American neighborhood pack of hunters defending their street, would you?

Yep. Sounds like the typical hunters I know. I've never been in the military but I shared a deer camp with good friends who are full time military with multiple deployments for over 20 years. One of them could easily out shoot me in any situation with a handgun. But only one of them. I was the only one to take my first 17 (maybe 19, not sure) deer with one shot kills. And, I did it with a glass bedded muzzle-loader with a Timmy trigger I built from a kit.

I gotta say, getting to share a deer camp with my military buds is something I'll always treasure and always miss. They could party harder around the fire at night and still hunt harder the next day than anyone, except maybe me.

I was and am honored to have spent many years around a fire with them. My son Joe made this video for one of our buds when he was overseas.

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